Chymia, a collaboration between Mutina and Laboratorio Avallone is the latest porcelain tile collection available in full exclusively at Parkside.
Chymia fluctuates between the discipline of graphic design, expressive gestures of mark making and the two extremes of black and white, where symbols and textures are combined to create patterns of light and shadow on the surface. Black forms the basis, in a distinctive tone created by designer Gennaro Avallone, with the patterns taking on various shades of black all the way through to white. Throughout the collection, black and white are never separate but co-exist, with each pattern also available in white, taking on various shades all the way through to black in a reversal of role.
Each of the 22 (11 black, 11 white) designs in Chymia is obtained by combining the principle black and white structures with 11 patterned textures, achieving a tile that can be used randomly in monochrome compositions. The collection involved research on glazes and raw materials, along with the combination of traditional applications and modern technology to achieve the absolute colours used.
Chymia came to life in a collaborative project between ceramics manufacturer Mutina and Laboratorio Avallone, a Milan-based studio whose research reaches in to painting and sculpture to create unique objects of contemporary furnishing. The collection was developed with the aim of making a break with traditional styles, restoring an original quality to ceramics with unexpected outcomes.
Sarah Holey, marketing manager, Parkside: “Chymia is a collection that’s full of surprises. Taking the apparent simplicity of monochromatic pattern, it reveals that careful experimentation and attention to the creation of pure colours can bring depth and new-found results to a seemingly traditional black and white palette. Infusing new meaning into checkerboard or bringing more depth and nuance to all-over black or white, it offers some hugely exciting opportunities for designers and we’re delighted to welcome it to the Parkside portfolio.”
Chymia is available in 30 x 30cm porcelain tiles for wall or floor use, supplied in individual patterns in black or white.
For further information, 0116 276 2532, info@parkside.co.uk, www.parkside.co.uk
About Parkside
Through over 500 tile designs, including exclusives from the world’s best manufacturers, Parkside is a trusted tile specification company with the versatility to provide solutions for any commercial interior. With a philosophy of developing thoughtful responses to the unique demands of clients and their projects, Parkside delivers a range of additional services including waterjet cutting, colour matching and bespoke digital print. Alongside studios in Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Leicester and the Cotswolds; a team of knowledgeable consultants come together for over 200 years of experience in developing tile specifications with the architecture and design communities.
About Mutina
Mutina represents a brand-new way of looking at ceramics, which is no longer conceived as a material for tiles but as an interior design project. This artistic project combines technology with hand-crafted details and experimentations that transcend the limits of the materials, and indispensable research for innovation to ensure a high-quality product. Mutina works with designers such as Patricia Urquiola, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Tokujin Yoshioka, Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges, Inga Sempè, Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, a team that shares the same passions and approach to a unique product based on continuous research. Furthermore, the company carries on a series of special projects in collaboration with various partners from the art and design field, such as OEO Studio, maestro Gennaro Avallone and artist-designer Nathalie Du Pasquier.